Finger-ring.



'No. 769,668. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. F. R. STAFFORD. FINGER RING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-- 11, 1902. NO MODEL.

FIE 1.

Patented September 6, 1904.

UNITED STATES ATENT QFFIGE.

FRANK R. STAFFORD, OF PROV lDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

FINGER-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,668, dated September 6, 1904.

Application filed March 11, 1902. Serial No. 97,730. (No modehl Be it known that I, FRANK R. STAFFORD, a citizen of the United States. residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger-Rings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved ring. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the scrap rings or waste. Fig. 4c is a top plan of the tube from which said ring is made. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the cutting and forming die for making said improved ring. Fig. 6 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, illustrating the process of the manufacture of said ring by means of said die and an arbor or roll.

My invention relates to that class of fingerring commercially known as stone-rings that is, rings whose edges are not parallel throughout their entire extent, but which have a variation in breadth at ditferentcrosssections thereof as distinguished from that class of rings commercially known as bandrings that is, rings whose edges are par allel throughout their entire. extent. These rings may be made of solid gold or other solid metal. My improved ring is made without any transverse seam and without any soldering, whereas such rings as heretofore commonly made have been formed of stock in the form of a strip of proper contour bent into a circle. so that its two opposite ends are butted together and united by solder.

My invention consists of a seamless solidgold ring having a variation of breadth at different cross-sections, said improved ring being roll-hardened,trimmed, and rcsilient,thus constituting a new article of manufacture.

Solid -gold rings of the shape described have heretofore been produced in the following manner: A strip of gold of uniform width is placed upon a die which has been cut with a matrix of the desired shape and size, and by means of the blow of a 'ilfllJ-fzLCQtl plunger or forcer the portion of the gold strip overlying the matrix is pressed therein. The portions of the gold strip beyond the outline of the matrix are then carefully trimmed off. The remaining portion of the gold strip is next annealed and again placed on the die and again struck by the flat-faced plunger or forccr. The tin or flange so formed along the outline is carefully trimmed. These processes of annealing, striking, and trimming are repeated several times as often as may be necessary--to fully develop the pattern on the stock. The strip is then cut to the desired length. bent into a circular form, and the ends buttcd and united by solder.

Rings made in the manner just described, it is apparent. require long-continued and skilled labor in their manufacture and when formed must be carefully finished and polishcd. The rings are softened by the several annealings and by the final soldering and are therefore liable to be bent out of shape in use or wear.

It is the purpose of my invention to avoid these difficulties and to provide a ring of the shape described which is made without any joint and without any solder and which is a resilient, roll-hardened and trimmed ring perfectly retaining its shape and having a peculiarly dense and polished surface.

My improved ring is made by the process described in my pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 78,225, tiled October 10. 1901, for an improved process of making finger-rings. 13y the method of manufacture therein specified my improved ring is made by a single operation, which is less expensive, quicker, requires less skill or labor, and yet yields better results than any other known process of making such finger-rings. The pattern is fully developed in the stock used, the edges areaccurately formed and trimmed, the polishing is imparted by the rolling operation itself. and not only is the surface denser. because the particles of metal are compacted together by roll-pressure, but the ring throughout is harder, stiffer, and less liable to bend than when made by the processes heretofore employed in such manufacture.

The stock used in making my improved ring is in the form of a seamless tube A, of

/ and forth and is so mounted and adjusted as solid gold or other suitable metal, as shown in Fig. 4. This tube is annealed to properly y soften it.

In Fig. 5 is shown. on an enlarged scale, a die B, having a raised design extending longitudinally, the edges of which are sharp cutting edges a, as shown in section in Fig. 6, and the central portion is depressed, as also shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6 (which is on the same scale) is shown a roll C, rotatable by power. The tube A (shown in Fig.4) is placed on the roll C and rests upon the cutting edges a of the die B. The die B is fixed upon a suitble horizontal bed and is stationary. The roll 0 has alimited horizontal movement back to bear with great force upon the inner surface of the tube A, causing said tube to receive the impression and configuration of the die B, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the sharpedges a of said die penetrating and cutting through the tube A, thus separating and removing the scrap rings D D therefrom. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) The result is the finished ring E. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The annealing of the tube A previous to the operation illustrated in Fig. 6 so softens the metal that the cutting edges (4 of the die B easily penetrate the tube A and shear off the pieces D D, as shown, and by this cutting and shearing operation the edges of the ring E are trimmed at the same time the ring is rolled. The finished ring E, Fig. 1, has much larger diameter than that of the tube A, Fig. 4. This is due to the fact that the tube A in being subjected to the action of the roll C and the die B is much stretched and elongated, and the result is that the ring E by said operation is tempered and given a high degree of resilience, which is a very valuable property, especially in rings of light weight. These rings retain their true circular shape and do not bend or become distorted by pressure, but recover their said circular shape as soon as relieved from the disturbing pressure, whereas rings of this class which are annealed by the heat of soldering or for other operations are easily bent and become misshapen and have no power to recover their true circular shape and former condition, but must be repaired from time to time as often as they are thus injured. In this respect of resilience my improved ring is entirely unlike any rings of its class heretofore made and is therefore easily distinguishable from rings which have been soldered at the abutment of the two opposite ends of the blank or from cast rings, which being porous and left in an annealed condition bend Whenever subjected to undue pressure.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. As a new article of manufacture, a seamless, solid-gold, trimmed ring having a variation of breadth at its different cross-sections and a roll-hardened surface, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufactu-re,a seamless, solid-gold, roll-hardened ring having a variation of breadth at its different cross-sections, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture,a seamless, solid-gold, resilient ring having a variation of breadth at different cross-sections,sub-

stantially as described.

In testimony whereoflaffix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK R. STAFFORD. Witnesses: a

WARREN R. PERcE,

JOSEPH R. BULLooK, Jr. 

